How do you say "Sorry to keep you waiting." in Japanese?

"Sorry to keep you waiting." in Japanese is "お待たせしました。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

😅⏳

How to Say ‘Sorry to keep you waiting.’ in Japanese

Q: What does "お待たせしました。" mean in English?

"お待たせしました。" means "Sorry to keep you waiting." in English. Usage tip: [お待たせしました。] literally means something like "I made you wait," but it's the normal set phrase for "Sorry to keep you waiting." You'll hear the shorter [お待たせ] too in casual situations.

お待たせしました。

o mata se shi mashi ta

[oh mah-tah seh shee mah-shee tah]

💬 Usage Tip: [お待たせしました。] literally means something like "I made you wait," but it's the normal set phrase for "Sorry to keep you waiting." You'll hear the shorter [お待たせ] too in casual situations.

Phrase Breakdown

お

[oh]

honorific prefix

A polite prefix that makes the expression sound courteous.

Example

お会計をお願いします。

The bill, please.

待た

mata

[mah-tah]

kept waiting

Part of 待たせる, meaning to make someone wait.

Example

長く待たせてすみません。

Sorry for making you wait a long time.

せ

[seh]

make; let

Part of the causative ending in 待たせる, meaning to cause someone to do something.

Example

心配させてしまいました。

I ended up making you worry.

し

shi

[shee]

did

Part of the polite past form of する.

Example

注文しませんでした。

I did not order.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite past marker

Part of the polite past ending ました.

Example

会計を済ませました。

I finished paying the bill.

た

[tah]

past tense ending

Completes the polite past form ました.

Example

予約しました。

I made a reservation.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”

Mia S., 25, English Teacher

“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”

Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer

“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager